Apparatus for controlling the brakes on the steering wheels of vehicles



May 2o ,-1924.

E. MATTLET `AP1"1L^.TUS 'FOR CONTROLLING THE BRAKES ON THE STEERING WHEELS OF VEHICLES -r-nd March 22 Patented May 20, 1924.

ATENT Fries.

lnani-tsr ivrn'rrtnnorf Linen, BELGIUM.

APPARATUS FO'R CQNTROLLING THE BRAKES ON THE STEERING' WHEELS OFv vnHIcLEs.

Application filed`v March 22, 1923,. Serial No.,626,968`.

the brakes on the steering wheels of vehicles,

. and more particularly motor vehicles.

It is known in such devices to force the braking blocks against the braking pulley by an element which is connected to a piece provided with a spherical surface `bea-ring against a spherical surface provided on a member controlled by the driver.

According to the present invention, the element for forcing the bralle blocks ils" formed by a spherical ball, so that it bears itself the above said spherical surfaces.

Two constructional forms of this invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a section taken along the line A-B of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section taken along the line C-D of Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a detail.

Figure et is a section taken along the line E-F of Figure 5, and

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line (l-H--I-J of Figure 4f.

As shown the brake drum 1 is fixed to the steering-road wheel 2 by means of nuts and 1.jolt-s so as to revolve with the said wheel around the axle journal 3. The wheel 2 and drum 1 are able on the one hand to assume an inclination in relation to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis by pivoting around the axle journal pivot pin 4 which connects the journal to the axle in a well known manner shown in the drawings. rl`his axle journal pivot pin is fixed to the axle by means of a pin .5 or any other suitable device that will prevent its rotation. In the interior of the drum 1 there are arranged brake blocks 6 pivoted at 7 to a lug 8 fixed to a sleeve 9 that rotates with the axle journal. These brake blocks are aci ed upon by springs 10 which have a tendency to bring the said blocks close-rtogether towards the axis of the axle journal pivot pin. The brake blocks carry atrtheir free ends, plates 11 which arev fixed to them and which are inclined and arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of the axle journal pivotv pin in such a manner as Ato constitute the sides of an angle having its apex situated towards the outside of the brake. v j

A ball 12 arranged between the aforesaid plates and which moves strictly along the axis of the axle journal pvot pin, acts as a wedge between the aforesaid plates in' order to force the brake blocks apart and consequently produce the braking action by the friction of these brake blocks against the drum;

In the .first constructional form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, this movement of the ball is due to the movement of an internally screw-threaded cap 13 whose internal screwthread engages the corresponding thread 14. formed on the end of the axle journal pivot pin. The cap 13 being fixed to the brake operating lever 15` it is possible by actuating said lever to impart rotational motion to the cap 13 and consequently cause it to move along its axis.

In the constructional form illustrated in Figures 4: and 5, the axle journal pivot pin is likewise screw-threaded, and it is bored throughout its length so as to allow the rod 16 to be passed therethrough which is fixed to the internallv screw-threaded cap 17. rFhis rod thus follows the movements of the cap 17 and transmits to the ball 12 the thrust which causes the brakes to come into action.

It is obvious that the relative axial movement of the fixed axle journal pivot pin and threaded; a brake lever having a screwthreaded cap portion mounted on the screwthreaded end of said pivot pin; anda ball on said cap portion and adapted to be associated with .the free ends of the brake blocks to force the blocks against the brake drum on actuation of said, brake lever.

2. A brake for steering wheels comprising a brake drum mounted on a wheel; a sleeve rigidly secured tothe axle of said wheel; a

pair of brake blocks each pivoted at one end to said sleeve; a pivot pin mounted in said sleeve; a brake lever having a cap portion; and a ball associated with the end of said pivot pin and the free ends of the I brake blocks to force said blocks against the brake drum on actuation of said brake lever.

8. A brake for steering wheels comprising a brake drum fixed to a Wheel; a pivot pin mounted 1n said drum and on the axle;

brake blocks pivoted in said drum, a ball freely associated with said blocks; andv means on said pivot pin for forcing the ball between the ends of said brake blocks.

11. A brake for steering wheels comprising a brake drum fixed to a wheel; brake blocks pivotally arranged in said drum; a plate fixed to each block; a cup-shaped cap actuator mounted in said brake drum; and a ball between said plates and on said cap adapted to be forced between said blocks, said ball being free to rotate in all directions.

5. A brakev for steering Wheels comprising an axle; a housing for said axle; a brake drum mounted on said housing; a pivot pin mounted in said housing and having a screw-threaded portion at one end; a pair of brake blocks pivoted at one end to the housing of said axle; a ball freely associated between the free ends of said brake blocks; and means on the screw threaded portion of said pin for forcing the ball radially ,in order to force the brake blocks against the 'brake drum.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST MATTLET.

Witnesses z CHARLES MERCHIE, YvoNNE Ries. 

